Prediction: TCU offense can’t keep up with Baylor’s attack

On the line: It’s a classic matchup between one team that can score but can’t defend and another that’s among the NCAA’s better defensive teams but has had trouble putting points on the board. Both teams could use a conference win after a loss last week. For TCU, that loss broke a 12-game streak. Baylor came out on the wrong end of a shootout with West Virginia. TCU could use a victory not only to show they don’t need quarterback Casey Pachall to function, but also to avoid losing its first two conference games as a member of the Big 12.

When TCU has the ball: It’s now clear Pachall won’t be part of the team this year. So on TCU moves without their star quarterback, moving on with Trevone Boykin and Matt Brown. Boykin took every snap at quarterback last week, displaying mostly what one would expect from a redshirt freshman. Boykin provides some versatility, but he’ll need to cut back on the turnovers to keep up with Baylor’s offense. The Bears’ defense was torched last week, and if Matthew Tucker can go at running back, expect him to be fed on the ground to eat up clock and keep Baylor’s offense on the sideline. TCU will want to keep this one as low-scoring as possible.

When Baylor has the ball: The Bears have scored at least 47 points every game this season. Even on an off day, Baylor’s offense is still superior to almost every other team in the nation. After uncharacteristically allowing 37 points to Iowa State, it only gets tougher for this TCU defense. Baylor wants to air it out with the No. 1 passing offense and No. 2 scoring offense in the country. Making Nick Florence uncomfortable won’t be an easy task, but he hasn’t seen a defense as good as TCU’s this season.

Prediction: Even if Baylor’s offense scores fewer points than normal, this TCU defense can only do so much to contain Florence. The Bears will put points on the board, and this week is no time for uncertainty at quarterback. Baylor 38, TCU 28